Mycophilia by Eugenia Bone Revelations from the Weird World of Mushrooms

In Mycophilia, accomplished food writer and cookbook author Eugenia Bone examines the role of fungi as exotic delicacy, curative, poison, and hallucinogen, and ultimately discovers that a greater understanding of fungi is key to facing many challenges of the 21st century.

Engrossing, surprising, and packed with up-to-date science and cultural exploration, Mycophilia is part narrative and part primer for foodies, science buffs, environmental advocates, and anyone interested in learning a lot about one of the least understood and most curious organisms in nature.

EUGENIA BONE writes for many national magazines and newspapers, including Saveur, Food & Wine, Gourmet, Harper Bazaar, Marie Claire, and the New York Times. Her Web site, etable.net, is devoted to seasonal culinary arts.

Bookshelf Bombshells

If nothing else, I think mushrooming would be worth it just for the people watching, from the migrant harvesters to the off-the-grid bikers to the aforementioned blue-haired scientists to conspiracy theorists, especially if I could do it as an outside observer who gets to eat delicious mushrooms.